Section News

2015

Section Annual Conference

We would like to invite you to attend ABA Section of Litigation Annual Conference, which will be held April 15–17, 2014 at Hyatt Regency New Orleans, LA. The Section Annual Conference is known as THE conference for litigators and will connect you with top trial lawyers from across the United States for the latest tips and tactics in trial skills and business development.

2014

Legal Services Advanced FundraisingEach year the Section of Litigation funds the Fundraising Training Program on the effective implementation of private bar, capital, or endowment campaigns at the Section Annual Conference for up to 9 legal services programs (up to two staff members and a private bar attorney). Results and success rate of past attendees is quite remarkable—money well spent! Please encourage attorneys that would benefit from this year's actionable, substantive training with one of their private bar attorneys to apply by December 5, 2014.

Justice Assistance Fund

Justice Assistance Grant applications are due for this year's grants of up to $5,000 funded by the Section to support fundraising initiatives of legal services and other organizations whose primary purpose is to secure access to justice for low-income families and individuals. Preference is given to applications for discrete fundraising projects with positive long-term impact on the program's ability to raise funds from the private bar. Please encourage programs that you feel would benefit to apply by December 5, 2014. CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: 2015 Diversity Leadership Award

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2015 Diversity Leadership Award. This prestigious award will be presented during the Section Annual Conference in April 2015, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Access the nomination here to make your submission. The deadline to submit nominations is November 10, 2014.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: 2015 John Minor Wisdom Public Service and Professionalism Award

July 9, 2014

The nominating slate of ABA Section of Litigation Officers and Council Members to be considered and voted on at the Section Annual Business Meeting on Friday, August 8 during the 2014 ABA Annual Meeting in Boston are:

Chair-ElectSteven A. Weiss (2014–2015)

Vice-ChairLaurence Pulgram (2014–2015)

Revenue OfficerPalmer G. “Gene” Vance II (2014–2016)

SecretaryMary Smith (2014–2016)

Section Delegate

Don Bivens (2014–2015)

The Honorable Bernice Donald (2014–2017)

Lawrence J. Fox (2014–2017)

Council Members (2014–2017)

Joan K. Archer

Merrick L. “Rick” Gross

Richard L. Horwitz

D. Larry Kristinik

John S. Morris, III

Tracy Salmon-Smith

Chair-Elect Nancy Scott Degan will succeed to the position of Chair at the conclusion of the Association’s Annual Meeting, per the bylaws. For further information regarding the Section, the Nomination, and Election process, please consult the Section bylaws or contact Section Director Veronica Muñoz.

April 30, 2014

The E-Discovery National Institute, May 15–16, 2014, New York, NY – Nationally acclaimed e-discovery professionals will convene for a full day to analyze and discuss the latest developments and best strategies for managing the e-discovery process. Learn more at the E-Discovery 2014 page.

March 10, 2014

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: 2014 INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD - Nominations for the ABA Section of Litigation International Human Rights Award are now being accepted. The International Human Rights Award is intended to honor and give public recognition to an individual who has made a special contribution in the area of human rights in a foreign jurisdiction. The deadline for nominations has been extended to March 24, 2014. Visit the International Human Rights Award page for more details or submit your nominee now.

February 10, 2014

IMMEDIATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEGAL SERVICES/LEGAL AID PROGRAMS - DEADLINE EXTENDED - Please alert the Legal Services/Legal Aid Programs in your area of the February 21, 2014application deadline for the Section of Litigation's Legal Services/Legal Aid Programs. Visit the links below for further details and to apply.

Erwin Chemerinsky is the founding Dean, a Distinguished Professor of Law, and Raymond Pryke Professor of First Amendment Law at the University of California, Irvine School of Law, with a joint appointment in Political Science. His areas of expertise are constitutional law, federal practice, civil rights and civil liberties, and appellate litigation. He frequently argues cases before the nation's highest courts and also serves as a commentator on legal issues for national and local media. Enjoy this riveting video from the 2014 Winter Leadership Meeting, where Chemerinsky was one of the featured speakers.

SECTION APPOINTMENTS - Chair-Elect Nancy Degan has opened the appointment process for the Section’s leadership team in 2014–15. Please review the instructions and the application form for a leadership position. This form can also be used to nominate another Section member for a leadership position. To identify one or more positions that may be of interest to you or your nominee, you can review the Section's organizational chart. All Section members are eligible for a leadership appointment. The online process is open, and the deadline for the submission of all applications is February 21, 2014. If you have problems completing the online application, please contact Kieshia Cobb at kieshia.cobb@americanbar.org.

2013

December 16, 2013

Leadership Fellows Class of 2013—The Call to Service—The Leadership Fellows program is a component of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the ABA Section of Litigation. While the Leadership Fellows will certainly assume and carry out leadership roles within several of the committees in the Section, it is critical that our service also convey the message of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee—a committee whose title is as powerful as its purpose. Diversity is essential to the legal profession. Read More!

November 18, 2013

SECTION ANNUAL CONFERENCE - We are thrilled to invite you to attend ABA Section of Litigation Annual Conference, which will be held during April 9-11, 2014 at The Phoenician, in Scottsdale, AZ. The conference will offer 40 CLE sessions including 3 plenaries and feature 150 of the nation’s most respected judges, academics and trial lawyers,as they address litigation development and techniques in the trial advocacy. In addition to the education portion, the Section Annual Conference provides for an opportunity of meeting and networking with our distinguished guests and fellow participants. Register Now!

Washington state lags behind nearly every other state in the nation when it comes to protecting the rights of children in the foster care system because it does not provide foster youth with lawyers as called for by ABA policy. In this investigative report, Children’s Rights Litigation Committee cochair Casey Trupin and others discuss why having a lawyer makes a significant difference in the lives of foster youth. Watch the video!

November 4, 2013

PURCHASE Lawyering Lessons from Watergate (Video Presentation) -Three participants in the Watergate investigation of 40 years ago William Ruckelshaus, Egil Krogh, and Richard Davis -- share their perspectives on the ethical and practical lines between a lawyer’s duty to the client, and the duty to the rule of law. $5.00 (Section of Litigation Members), $60.00 (ABA Member), $75.00 (Regular) ABA Members, Log in now to receive this discount, $5.00 (Section of Litigation) ABA Members, Log in now to receive this discount! Purchase the video today!

October 7, 2013

40 years after Watergate, lawyers involved reflect on political scandal — Marking the 40th anniversary of Watergate, lawyers at the epicenter of the political scandal shared their reflections during a high-profile panel at the American Bar Association Section of Litigation’s 2013 Fall Leadership Meeting last month. Read more.

October 2, 2013

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ELECTIONS AND NOMINATION DUE DATESAt the Fall Leadership Meeting in Chicago, Council elected the following members of leadership to the Advisory Committee on Nominations: Mark Davidson, Koji Fukumura, Bart Greenwald, and Hon. Tiffany Williams. Nancy Degan, as chair-elect, serves as the chair of the Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee will consider applications for the positions of vice chair for a one-year term; revenue officer and secretary each for two-year terms; two delegates to the ABA House of Delegates for a three-year term, and six Council positions for three-year terms. Anyone interested in applying for any of these positions may obtain an application here. Applications are due to the section director by 5:00 p.m. Central time Friday, November 1, 2013, and must be submitted as described in the application. For more information, you may contact Section Director Veronica Munoz at veronica.munoz@americanbar.org.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS – 2014 Diversity Leadership Award - You are invited to submit nominations for the 2014 Diversity Leadership Award. The award will be presented during the Section Annual Conference in April 2014 in Scottsdale, AZ. Deadline: November 14, 2013. Submit your nomination today!

Public Service: Judicial Internship Opportunity Program (JIOP) - By sponsoring JIOP, you are contributing not just to a program but to helping students have opportunities they would not otherwise have to get experience and make connections. With your help, we make it possible. Learn More

Class Actions 2013- Get the edge on your class action competition and grow your class action practice by joining us for the 17th Annual National Institute on Class Actions. Find more information here or register now!

August 12, 2013

Fostering Justice: Third National Conference On The Right To Counsel For Abused And Neglected Children: On June 21 in Seattle, WA, the Section of Litigation co-sponsored Fostering Justice: Third National Conference On The Right To Counsel For Abused And Neglected Children at the University of Washington School of Law. Preceding the symposium was a press conference at which Washington state Rep. Roger Goodman and former Washington state Supreme Court Justice Bobbe Bridge spoke, along with and current foster youth and Section leaders Casey Trupin and Angela Vigil. The symposium drew approximately 130 attendees including judges, legislators, law professors, lawyers and foster youth who worked together to draft materials on topics ranging from outcomes, to litigation and legislative strategies to messaging. The day concluded with a session on next steps that included an energizing presentation from foster youth. Materials from the symposium will be housed on the Section’s Fostering Justice website, along with other resources for a child’s right to counsel in abuse and neglect cases.

ABA Annual San Francisco Update: The InterContinental Hotel is now SOLD OUT. For additional information, please visit the Travel Information page.

June 24, 2013

Content Pages. This month we launch the latest in our collection of the best of the Section on topics of interest for litigators. The content page for materials on Alternative Dispute Resolution is here. Visit theResources & Key Subjects page to take advantage of other content pages and other useful Section resources.

Litigation 101. Have to take your first deposition? Make you first oral argument? Attend your first settlement conference? Take a look at our checklists for litigators collected on our Litigation 101 page. If you have a checklist to contribute to the collection, email it here.

Overcriminalization Task Force. The Section of Litigation Overcriminalization Task Force works to educate members on issues facing America's prison and criminal justice system. From articles on public policy to reform efforts to social impact, the task force provides many resources to learn about and discuss this urgent problem. Visit the Overcriminalization webpagefor more information and resources.

June 23, 2013

Celebrating the Preeminent Journal for Litigators. As LITIGATION enters its 40th year, the Section celebrates its remarkable history and standing by honoring its editors-in-chief, whose leadership and guidance have sustained the Journal as the country's most respected publication for litigators. Its unique mix of thought-provoking ideas, practical professional advice, and stories from the field--all authored by the best in the field and presented in the Journal's unique and entertaining style and format--reflects the toil of many. But, every two years, one person takes the helm and leads the publication, with full responsibility for its content and presentation: that person is the editor-in-chief. Today, we honor the editors-in-chief of LITIGATION. Enjoy this video of the event and the 40th year Litigation Journal video.

June 17, 2013

As LITIGATION enters its 40th year, the Section celebrates its remarkable history and standing by honoring its editors-in-chief, whose leadership and guidance have sustained the Journal as the country's most respected publication for litigators. Its unique mix of thought-provoking ideas, practical professional advice, and stories from the field--all authored by the best in the field and presented in the Journal's unique and entertaining style and format--reflects the toil of many. But, every two years, one person takes the helm and leads the publication, with full responsibility for its content and presentation: that person is the editor-in-chief. Today, we honor the editors-in-chief of LITIGATION. Enjoy this video of the event and the 40th year Litigation Journal video.

Fostering Justice - Children Need Lawyers! The Children’s Rights Litigation Committee (CRLC) is engaged in a multiyear project to ensure that every child involved in an abuse and neglect case is appointed a quality lawyer. Lawyers can improve outcomes for foster youth and help them to secure a permanent home faster. The CRLC created a new PSA focused on educating both the Bar and the public on why lawyers for children are so critical. We need your help in circulating and promoting this video! Please share it with colleagues and on your social media sites. Encourage your organizations to share it on their websites and social media as well. For more information please visitwww.ambar.org/FosteringJustice.

May 7, 2013

Former Attorney General and former Chair of the ABA Section of Litigation Benjamin Civiletti was the recipient of the ABA Section of Litigation Annual Excellence Award at a dinner held in his honor on April 26, following the conclusion of the ABA Section of Litigation Section Annual Conference in Chicago, to a record attendance of over 1,100 lawyers. Read more about The Annual Excellence Award and Benjamin Civiletti.

April 29, 2013

This year's Section Annual Conference, April 24–26 in Chicago, was a huge success! There were over 1000registrants for this year’s event and over 200 nationally known speakers including David Axelrod, Former Senior Advisor to the President, Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of Chicago, and John J. Cullerton, Illinois Senate President, Neal K. Katyal, Former Acting Solicitor General of the United States,Joe Torre, Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and Founder of the Safe at Home Foundation, and many more. With a number of networking opportunities and a carnival-themed Committee Expo, this year's event was a great opportunity for fun and exposure to others in the legal community. Read aboutWorld Series Manager Joe Torre Talks of Growing Up With Domestic Violence as He Advocates for Children and view other highlights from this year’s SAC!

April 22, 2013

ANNOUNCING the recipients of the 2013 Diversity Leadership Award and John Minor Wisdom Public Service and Professionalism Award

The Diversity Leadership Award recognizes those individuals or entities who have demonstrated a commitment to promoting full and equal participation in the legal profession through the encouragement and inclusion of women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and/or persons of differing sexual orientations and gender identities. This year’s award recipient is Larry D. Smith, a founding Partner of Southern Trial Counsel PLC in Orlando, FL. Learn more about our recipients and the Diversity Leadership Award.

The John Minor Wisdom Public Service and Professionalism Awards are given to lawyers in public or private practice or to firms that have made a substantial commitment to public service through their accomplishments in significant pro bono litigation. This year, the recipients of the award are Larry Hammond from Osborn Maledon in Phoenix, AZ, andthe law firm of Perkins Coie, LLP. Learn more about our recipients and the John Minor Wisdom Award.

March 18, 2013

This year's Section Annual Conference, April 24-26 in Chicago, has it all. More programs. More networking events. More opportunities to connect with those who have similar interests. 70 CLE programs in over 20 tracks covering Trial Skills, Hot Topics, Securities, Experts, Corporate Counsel and more. Over 200 nationally known speakers. This conference is a must attend for those wanting the latest in litigation.

March 7, 2013

Celebrating The Promise of Gideon In 1963 the United States Supreme Court held in Gideon v. Wainwright that everyone charged with a felony offense had the Constitutional right to a lawyer -- a landmark decision that began with a simple handwritten petition from a prisoner named Clarence Gideon. The Section of Litigation has gathered information and resources on this ground-breaking case. A video documentary, the original petition for the case, case facts, oral arguments and decision, articles and other resources can now be viewed on the Celebrating The Promise of Gideon webpage.

February 4, 2013

Section Annual Conference, April 24 - 26, 2013 at the JW Marriott in Chicago, IL Take advantage of early bird discounts now—$500 (or $350 if you have never attended). Early bird registration ends February 28, 2013.

ABA Section of Litigation Appointments 2013 - 2014 All Section members are eligible for a leadership appointment. The online process is open, and the deadline for the submission of all applications is March 15, 2013. Please review the instructions and the application form for a leadership position. This form can also be used to nominate another Section member for a leadership position. To identify one or more positions that may be of interest to you or your nominee, you can review the Section's organizational chart. If you have problems completing the on-line application, please contact Kieshia Cobb at Kieshia.Cobb@americanbar.org.

Watch the full recording of The 50th Anniversary of Gideon v. Wainwright program presented by the American Bar Association Section of Litigation on January 18, 2013 in Marco Island, FL. This decision recognized a constitutional right to the appointment of counsel for indigent criminal defendants charged with felonies. Mr. Gideon was in prison when he submitted his handwritten petition to the U.S. Supreme Court requesting counsel.

2012

December 5, 2012

Updated Committee Page. We have updated our committee page to make it easier to find substantive articles and committee business information. Take a look!

November 5, 2012

SECOND EXTENDED DEADLINE! COUNCIL & OFFICER APPLICATION TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Due to continued weather-related challenges faced by our members in the Northeast, the application deadline for Council and Officer Positions has been extended once again to COB Tuesday, November 13. Please submit your applications toJeralyn Millan-Traan at Jeralyn.MillanTraan@americanbar.org. To fill out and submit an application, please click here:Council & Officer Application Form.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS – 2013 Diversity Leadership Award and John Minor Wisdom Public Service and Professionalism Award You are invited to submit nominations for the 2013 Diversity Leadership Award and John Minor Wisdom Public Service and Professionalism Award. These prestigious awards will be presented during the Section Annual Conference in April 2013 in Chicago, IL.Deadline: December 4, 2012. Visit the Section website for more information:

October 22, 2012

The Children’s Rights Litigation Committee hosted a Roundtable Discussion to kick off The Educational Civil Rights Accountability Project. The goal of the project is to work for strong monitoring and enforcement by the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Education and the Department of Justice of discriminatory practices by school districts that lead to a school to prison pipeline. [Download the recording]

September 17, 2012

Live Streaming EventsWatch Lessons in Leadership from the Civil Rights Movement on 9/28 and Baseball, A Governor & Successful Trial Strategies in High Profile Cases on 9/29 for free via Live Streaming.

August 29, 2012

The Section of Litigation has a redesigned homepage! The redesigned homepage offers a new look and easier access to all of the content the Section has to offer. Every week, we post new materials to help you access news you can use, in way that is most convenient for you. The Section has hundreds of articles, podcasts, teleconferences and case notes to help you in your practice. Check the website frequently to take advantage of new features and exclusive content.

Focus on Attorney-Client Privilege:Each month we will focus on an area of interest to litigators. Our focus for August is the attorney/client privilege. We have listed some of the Section’s best resources here.

Trial Advocacy Video Tips:As a new benefit of membership, each week the Section will post one on the Section website short video tip from judges and experienced litigators. This month we have posted four to preview what is coming.

Roundtables:Section Committees are bringing you a new member benefit this year – free teleconferences with leading lawyers and judges on important issues within the committee’s area of expertise. The first of these is brought to you by the Intellectual Property Litigation Committee. Other committees will follow in months to come.

Sound Advice Audio:Starting in September, the Section will post three podcast channels devoted to essential subjects for every litigator. On the first Monday of the month, we will post a podcast on ethics; the second Monday will be evidence; the third Monday will be e-discovery/procedure.

Newsletters:Look for new committee newsletters in September from: Environmental; Securities; Young Advocate; Construction; and Intellectual Property